Handgun discovered at Maumelle High School MAUMELLE (AP) — Authorities say Maumelle High School briefly went on lockdown after a handgun was discovered in a classroom. Pulaski County Special School District spokeswoman Deb Roush says the school went on lockdown at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday after someone saw a student with a gun. Roush says Maumelle police responded quickly, and an 18-year-old student was taken into custody. Maumelle police say officers discovered a .25-caliber handgun o...

Officials say multiple arrests in cocaine ring LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Officials say multiple arrests have been made for a cocaine ring that was operating in central Arkansas. Federal drug officials said Monday the arrests were related to an indictment of 23 people on drug and weapons charges. Officials allege those arrested were involved in the trafficking of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine since 2011 in North Little Rock, Little Rock and Saline County areas. Between 2012 and 2013, officials ...

Manslaughter charge dropped against ex-copLITTLE ROCK (AP) — Prosecutors on Monday dropped a felony manslaughter charge against a former Little Rock police officer in the death of a 15-year-old boy who was suspected of breaking into cars at an apartment complex. Two previous trials ended in hung juries for Josh Hastings, who was charged in the 2012 death of Bobby Moore III. Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson said at a Monday pre-trial hearing that he believed Hastings was guilty but...

Man charged with murder in prank death of LR teen LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Prosecutors have formally charged a man accused of killing a 15-year-old girl when he fired a gun into a car full of teenagers he thought had vandalized his car. Authorities on Friday charged 48-year-old Willie Noble with one count of first-degree murder and six felony counts of committing a terroristic act. Police said Noble's car was spattered with eggs, mayonnaise and toilet paper on Feb. 14, and he told investigators he ...

Police join effort to end texting and driving LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Law enforcement agencies across Arkansas are joining a national effort to stop texting while driving, Arkansas State Police said Monday. The crackdown is part of a six-day national program that begins Thursday called "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." that combines officers watching for drivers who are texting with a national advertising and media campaign to inform the public about stepped-up patrols and a driver's responsibility to...

Gov. Mike Beebe announce intent to pardon 10 LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe has announced his intent to grant pardons to 10 convicts. The governor's office said Tuesday that each of the 10 have completed all jail time, fulfilled all parole-and-probationary requirements and paid all fines related to their sentences. The 10 are Jimmy Blackwood Sr. of Camden; Brian Earls of Benton; Roderick Hyre Jr. of Oak Grove, Mo.; Tyrel Kempson of Shirley; Johnny Kesterson of Dierks; Tony Moses of V...

Derrick's arraignment delayedApril Derrick's arraignment on a first-degree murder charge was delayed from Monday to April 14. Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons told Circuit Judge William Pearson he is still awaiting the autopsy report. He said investigators are conducting blood-spatter tests as well. Derrick's Defense Attorney, Debra Reece, agreed to the April 14 court date. Reece said Derrick is still in custody at the Pope County Jail. On March 4, Pearson set a $250,00...

Heroin use rising in Arkansas; drug deaths rare LITTLE ROCK. (AP) — Some states are reporting a rise in heroin use as many addicts shift from more costly and harder-to-get prescription opiates to this cheaper alternative. Here's a look at what's happening in Arkansas: THE PROBLEM: While heroin use has grown since nearly a decade ago, the state's health department says prescription drug abuse ranks higher on the state's list of health problems. "Heroin is always a concern," said Kerry Krell,...

Man reaches plea deal on murder charge POTEAU, Okla. (AP) — An Arkansas man has avoided a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to murder in the death of a Fort Smith woman whose body was found in a pond in Oklahoma. The Times Record reported Johnathen Thacker of Cedarville pleaded guilty Friday in LeFlore County District Court in Poteau to first-degree murder in the September 2010 death of 22-year-old Briana Jane Ault. Ault's body was found in a pond in Pocola. In exchange fo...

Bond Hearings (April 5, 2014)The following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear May 5 in Circuit Court. • Cameron Jolley, 31, breaking or entering — $25,000. On March 14, a woman reported someone had stolen hundreds of dollars of clothes and other items from her vehicle as well as her credit card. The credit card was used at ...

Prosecutors: Ex-treasurer was properly convicted LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Prosecutors say former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner was properly convicted on 14 bribery and extortion counts over payments she received from a bond broker to whom she steered state investments. Federal prosecutors on Friday asked U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes to deny Shoffner's motion to acquit her conviction last month over the $36,000 in cash payments she received from bond broker Steele Stephens. Shoffner's attor...

Trial delayed for former Ouachita County judge EL DORADO (AP) — A federal judge has delayed the trial of a former Ouachita County judge accused of awarding a disaster-relief contract in exchange for a campaign contribution. Mike Hesterly was set to go to trial Monday on bribery and fraud charges, but a judge on Friday delayed the trial until July 8. Hesterly's lawyers had sought a delay, saying that Hesterly was recovering from a recent back surgery. A federal grand jury indicted Hesterly ...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear May 5 in Circuit Court. • Sonya Furr, 33, theft — $10,000. The Russellville Police Department (RPD) took a complaint from a man who said his sister, a resident of Wildflower Retirement Residence, was a theft victim. He reported an estimated $1,...

Ex-officer seeks dismissal of manslaughter charge LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A former Little Rock police officer charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy is asking a judge to throw out the case to avoid having a third trial of the case. The latest trial is scheduled to begin May 5 as prosecutors make another attempt to convince a jury that Josh Hastings was reckless when he fatally shot Bobby Moore III in 2012. Two previous juries couldn't reach a unanimous verdict. Hastin...

3 indicted in income tax scheme LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Three Osceola residents are charged in federal court with running a scheme in which they're accused of filing fraudulent claims for $91,000 in income tax refunds. A 14-count grand jury indictment handed up Wednesday charges 39-year-old Christopher Minor, 60-year-old Annie Watkins and 50-year-old Roosevelt Oliver with filing and conspiring to file false claims for federal income tax refunds. The indictment alleges that the th...

Husband-and-wife doctors facing fraud indictment LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Two doctors who run a Little Rock medical clinic are facing a federal indictment for $1.2 million in alleged health care fraud. A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Drs. Robert Barrow and Angela Barrow. The two are husband and wife. Both are charged with one count of conspiracy and six counts of health care fraud. Robert Barrow also faces four counts of making false statements in relation to health care matters. Prosecutors sa...

Prosecutor clears Bald Knob chief in shooting BALD KNOB (AP) — A prosecutor has cleared the Bald Knob police chief in a shooting that wounded a woman at a convenience store. Prosecuting attorney Chris Raff said Chief Tim Sanford was justified in his use of force in the March 24 shooting of 34-year-old Amy Renee Collins of Cave City. According to police, Sanford was investigating a reported stabbing at the convenience store when he shot Collins after she allegedly ran toward him with a kni...

Attorney general's office makes child porn arrest LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas attorney general's office has arrested a Little Rock man for possession of child pornography. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced Tuesday that 52-year-old Christopher L. Boyd is charged with 30 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing child pornography. Boyd was awaiting a bond hearing and was held in the Pulaski County Jail. It was unknown whether he has an attorney. Agents served a search warrant a...